Ocular Itch

It's that time of year again! I personally have *intense* ocular itch right now, and it's only Wed and I've already had 3 "pink eye that won't go away" cases who were Rx'd antibiotics by their primary care providers. This is not too surprising since the pollen count for Huntsville, TX (according to pollen.com) is a 10.5 out of a possible 12. All of our cars are covered in a light yellow dusting. My lymphatic cysts are back in my right eye, my eyes itch like mad and my lids are slightly swollen. I have been using Alaway antihistamine eye drops OTC twice a day for months but yesterday I put myself on steroids - twice a day of Lotemax gel. If your eyes are ITCHY...don't bother with artificial tears or Visine or anything from Similisan. Go straight for the Alaway or Zaditor OTC and if you're still itchy, consider a visit to your OD for a steroid Rx. Be careful out there! - Dr P

Comments

  1. I just wanted to share my current situation and a few questions that go along with it. Around 5 months ago, I had woken up with bloodshot, irritated eyes (I had slept in my contacts which I usually never do). I just figured it was some sort of eye infection. I went to the eye doctor, and he told me I was “allergic” to my contacts and prescribed me Tobradex. I believe I used this for around two weeks and found that it had cleared up most of the redness but left my eyes feeling very dry and still slightly irritated. I later went to another eye doctor and she said she had found GPC. She prescribed me Lotemax and said to use artificial tears. I have been on Lotemax for about 2 weeks and my eyes are still VERY feeling dry. The itchiness and the irritation have gone down but I’m not sure why they are still dry. My new ophthalmologist says she is doubtful it is dry eye syndrome because of my young age and also due to the fact that I had a normal schirmer number (although she did see a problem with the quality of my tears). I have not been able to wear contacts for almost five months, and I am getting pretty desperate. She now wants to put me on a stronger steroid, but I’m not sure that will do much. I also have fairly high pressure in my eyes so even she is hesitant to put my on the stronger drop. I am not sure if GPC is truly the problem or maybe it is DES.

    Sorry for the length of this. If you have any insight that would be great. I have read your previous posts and I figured it would be worth a shot.

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  2. I personally think shirmer is worthless. but just MO.
    yes I agree it is doubtful it's "DES" if the patient is under say 40. possible but doubtful.
    are you in contacts right now and they're still "dry"? if so, I'd try Acuvue Oasys 1-Day or Alcon Dailies Total One. if you're not wearing contacts and you're *still* uncomfortable...well this is going to be tough to solve. I doubt a "stronger" (I hate that term b/c it's not very accurate) steroid is the answer. also - there is no "allergic to contacts". that does not exist. I hate that term as well. the doc who said that really also meant GPC

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  3. Also, is it normal to experience this much dryness with GPC and/or eye allergies?

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    Replies
    1. this is really a trick question. an inflamed eye (GPC) is very uncomfortable. how a person describes that discomfort is extremely variable. I would consider it unlikely for anyone under say 38 to have clinical dry eye. so what you're feeling is probably not clinically dry eye.

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  4. i went to the eye doc recently because I thought I had DES. The doc said I had GPC. I've been on Lotemax for 1 month. My eyes are no longer red but they still feel very dry and mildly irritated. I've been out of contacts for a while, and when i put them in yesterday, they were bloodshot almost immediately and it felt like there was something in one of them. I assume this is the GPC. The doc said i should no longer need lotemax by this point. Does it sound like I should still be using Lotemax? or should I investigate more with DES.

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  5. if you are under about 30, it's probably not DES. and it is my experience that GPC is usually chronic. a month on lotemax will not "cure" most cases. need to switch to dailies if you have not already. many GPC sufferers are on lotemax a few times a day for literally months, with a permanent switch to dailies

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  6. I recently had an osmolarity test because of dry eye symptoms and my contacts were bothering me. Can GPC cause poor quality of tears? or is that something mainly related to dry eye syndrome?

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  7. I personally believe that is mainly related to dry eye syndrome.

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  8. I also believe that it is. i am slightly confused though because my ophthalmologist recently diagnosed me with GPC. Is it possible to have both DES and GPC?

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  9. yes, possible. although if you're under about 40 I personally consider DES to be a little unlikely

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